Iowa football 2024 pre-spring position breakdown: Linebackers

IOWA CITY — Seth Wallace has an “inconvenience,” but it is an inconvenience that almost any coach would happily take.

Every scholarship player from Iowa’s highly productive linebacker corps is slated to return in 2024.

Wallace recognizes some players will “have choices to make” as a result. (That is especially the case considering Iowa is seven spots over the scholarship limit.)

“I would welcome their choices,” said Wallace, Iowa’s linebackers coach and assistant head coach, last month. “I would give the two sides as best I could in regards to it, but at the end of the day, they've got to make some decisions. … There's not a ton that is good about the transfer portal, but there are kids that can leave now and maybe try to find a better situation if, in fact, they're set on not being here.”

Given the caveat that some attrition is possible (as it is at almost any other position as well), here is an early look at Iowa’s 2024 linebacker corps ahead of spring practices:

Who’s gone

The only 2023 linebackers not on the 2024 roster at this point in the offseason are walk-ons Josef Smith and Tanner Pollock.

Who’s back

Most notably, first-team FWAA All-American Jay Higgins will return for his extra COVID-19 year of eligibility. Higgins tied the program record with 171 total tackles in a single season in his first year as Iowa’s starting middle linebacker.

Nick Jackson, who also started all 14 games last season, was granted an NCAA waiver for an extra year of eligibility in 2024 (because of Virginia’s tragedy-shortened 2022 season). Jackson had 110 total tackles, including eight tackles for loss and four sacks in 2023.

Kyler Fisher, Iowa’s first-team linebacker at the Leo spot, will use his extra COVID-19 year of eligibility in 2024 as well. Fisher had 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 2023.

Karson Sharar, Zach Twedt and Jaden Harrell will be in their penultimate years of eligibility this year. Sharar and Harrell appeared in all 14 games last year, but it was predominantly on special teams.

Landyn Van Kekerix and Jayden Montgomery have three years of eligibility remaining, and Ben Kueter and Aidan Hall have four years of eligibility remaining.

While not on scholarship, Jaxon Rexroth and Kelby Telander could be other linebackers to watch in 2024.

Who’s joining the mix

In-state recruits Cam Buffington, Derek Weisskopf and Preston Ries are joining the Hawkeyes as incoming freshmen. Williamsburg’s Weisskopf and Winfield-Mount Union’s Buffington have four-star ratings from 247Sports while Monticello’s Ries has a three-star rating.

Way-too-early two-deep projections

With all three starters returning, there are no surprises in the two-deep projections at this position group:

Middle linebacker

Weakside linebacker

Leo

Outlook

Topping Iowa’s 2023 linebacker production is no easy feat, but it's a possibility in 2024 for a position group that returns every starter.

The health of Higgins, Jackson and Fisher will be key — after that trio, there is a significant drop-off in in-game experience — but even if that happens, there is no shortage of upperclassmen who have waited for an opportunity to showcase their skill set.

Iowa has been home to at least two all-Big Ten linebackers (if including honorable mentions) in each of the last four seasons. All signs point toward that trend continuing in 2024.

Editor’s note: This is the eighth of a nine-part series breaking down where each Iowa football position group stands at this point in the offseason.

More Iowa football offseason position breakdowns

• Quarterback

• Running backs

• Tight ends

• Offensive line

• Defensive line

• Defensive backs

• Special teams

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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